宏浩翻譯有限公司

◎陳正健

For many young women, getting their pubic hair ripped out has become a monthly ritual. According to a new study published this week in JAMA Dermatology, 83 per cent of over 3,300 women surveyed across America do some form of personal grooming. The practice appears to be most common among white and college-educated women between the ages of 18 to 34.

對許多年輕女性而言，剃除陰毛已成為每月的固定儀式。根據國際醫學期刊《JAMA Dermatology》本週刊載的一項新研究，在全美國超過3300名女性受訪者中，83％有某種形式的個人理毛習慣。這種行為尤以白人和大學學歷女性 最為普遍，年齡介於18歲至34歲之間。

Nearly a third of those surveyed believe grooming makes their genitals "more attractive," while 21 per cent admit they do it for their partner. A whopping 60 per cent of them claim they do it for "hygienic reasons."

受訪者中有將近3分之1相信，修整陰毛可讓她們的生殖器「更具吸引力」，但有21％坦言是為了伴侶而做。其中有高達60％女性聲稱，她們這麼做是為了「衛生原因」。

What’s troubling for lead author and gynecologist Tami Rowen is how early some girls start the habit. She said："I just saw a 14-year-old this morning who’s not sexually active… [already] grooming."

這讓研究報告主要作者、婦科醫生塔米．蘿溫擔心，有些女孩很早就有這項習慣。她表示：「我今天早上正好看到一個14歲女孩，在性方面尚未活躍，但已開始整理陰毛。」

Aside from reducing the risk of pubic lice, Rowen explained that getting rid of pubic hair can actually lead to a whole host of problems, including lacerations, burns, allergic reactions and abscesses.

蘿溫解釋說，除了減少陰蝨的風險之外，剃除陰毛實際上可能導致許多問題，包括撕裂傷、灼傷、過敏反應和膿腫等。

新聞辭典

pubic：形容詞，陰毛的，陰部的，恥骨的。例句：Pubic lice infest only pubic hair.（陰蝨只寄生在陰毛裡。）

gynecologist：名詞，婦科醫生。例句：We went to the leading gynecologists and asked for physical measurements.（我們造訪那位婦科權威，索取物理測量數據。）

a host of：形容詞，許多，一大群。例句：He has a host of friends.（他有很多朋友。）